Offshore patrol vessel HMCS Harry DeWolf returning to Halifax after generator failure

A generator failure has forced HMCS Harry DeWolf to abandon its voyage to Canada's Far North to join HMCS Margaret Brook and other vessels in sovereignty exercises.

Speaking to CBC News from on board HMCS Margaret Brook, navy Capt. Sheldon Gillis, commander of the Canadian Task Group deployed to the North, said early Friday aftternoon the vessel was southwest of Newfoundland en route to Halifax harbour for repairs. 

Gillis said diesel generator number four, one of the generators required for propulsion, failed.

"In order to ensure that the ship was fully prepared for operations in the North, a decision was made to turn the ship around back to Halifax harbour to effect those repairs, and then get the ship back underway," Gillis said.

According to Gillis, Arctic and offshore patrol vessels have four generators on board. Two are at the bow of the ship and two are at the stern.

The warship was delivered to the navy on July 31, 2020, and was commissioned on June 26, 2021. It's the first Arctic and offshore patrol ship built at the Halifax Shipyard as part of Canada's national shipbuilding strategy.

The trip would have been the second to the Arctic for HMCS Harry DeWolf. The vessel completed its first operational mission in December, a four-month deployment that included sailing through the Northwest Passage, crossing the Arctic Circle and circumnavigating North America.

The current two-month mission in the Arctic includes community relations, scientific trials and patrols along the Northwest Passage, working alongside the United States Coast Guard, the Royal Danish Navy and the French navy.

3 working generators

The ship left Halifax with three working generators. The fourth was broken and officials were waiting for a part that would be sent to the first port visited. However, the ship had to turn around because of the latest generator failure.

Gillis said it was "fully safe" to operate that type of vessel on three generators and the ship was fully certified for safe operations.

He said when the ship arrives in Halifax late Sunday evening or early Monday morning, experts will determine what repairs are needed.

Despite the mechanical problems, Gillis said the Navy had the "utmost confidence" in the vessels. 

"This is machinery and machinery breaks. And it doesn't matter what industry that you are part of. In this case, it happens to be a warship and we're going to do exactly what we need to do," he said.

"We'll get the repair done as quickly as we can, as safely as we can, and get the ship underway for operations again."

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